Electrical connector



Feb. 15, 1949. w, CLARK 2,462,036

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Filed March 6, 1945 InvenZo-r:

Gag/2n LZark.

Patented eb. H5, 1949 ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Geoffrey William Clark, Bramcote, England, as-

signor to United-Carr Fastener Corporation,

Cambridge, Mass.

Application March 6, 1945, Serial No. 581,204 In Great Britain April 13, 1944 1 Claim.

The present invention relates to holders for thermionic valves, plug and like devices having projecting contact pins.

More particularly the invention relates to holders of the kind comprising at least two superimposed plates of insulating material having pinreceiving contacts arranged below the uppermost plates.

It is usual to secure such holders to the underside of chassis plates or like supports in register with an aperture through which the valve or the like is inserted. Certain types of valves, for example those comprising a glass base in which pins are embedded, have valve pins which are too short to make effective contact with the normal type of valve holder, which by reason of the underside mounting, is spaced below the upper face of the chassis. It is an object of the invention to provide a holder which will be effective for use with this and other types of valves.

According to the present invention the holder comprises superposed plates of insulating material, wherein the top plate is substantially smaller than the underplate which has integral portions extending laterally of the top plate which are directly secured to the underface of a supporting panel to position the top plate within an aperture in the panel with its upper face substantially flush with or projecting above the upper face of the panel.

The invention also includes means for mounting contacts in the holder.

To enable the invention to be fully understood it will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a thermionic valve holder according to one embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the holder in assembly with an apertured panel.

Fig. 3 is a side view of a contact, and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section of the holder with a'contact secured in position.

As shown in the accompanying drawings the holder comprises superposed plates I and 2 of insulating material spaced apart by an annular washer 3. The top or upper plate I is circular and the lower plate 2 consists of a central circular portion of greater diameter than the plate I, and provided with integral portions 4 extending laterally of the plate I and having apertures 5 to receive rivets or the like for securing the plate 2 to the underface of the apertured panel a. The plates I, Z and the washer 3 are secured together by a central contact 6 which, in known manner, forms a guideway for a centre guide contact pin of the valve or plug.

The plate I has a series of apertures I, beneath which are arranged metal pin-receiving contacts 8 mounted in apertures 9 in the lower plate 2.

The holder is adapted to be mounted on the supporting panel a in register with a circular aperture I 0. Apertures, such as II], are made to a standard size in chassis and like panels in the radio industry and the plate I of the holder is of slightly less diameter than the apertures whereby when the holder is assembled on the underface of the panel a, as shown in Fig. 2, the plate l extends through the aperture 9 and its upper face lies substantially flush with or projects above the upper face of the panel. Accordingly, when a valve or the like is inserted into the holder, there is no obstruction to prevent the complete insertion of the valve pins and an efficient electrical contact is assured, even in the case of short pin valves such as referred to above.

It will be understood that the shape of the plates I and 2 may be varied, provided the relative dimensions permit the plate I to extend into the aperture in the panel.

If more than two superposed plates are provided the uppermost plate andan intermediate plate or plates may be adapted to extend into the panel aperture.

As particularly shown in Fig. 3 the contacts 8 for receiving the pins of the valve or the like are formed from a sheet metal blank and comprise a base II having upwardly curved wings I2 the free ends of which are bent inwardly and downwardly to form channels I3. The base II has a depending wiring tag I4. The wings I2 adapted to grip the pins of the valve or the like are inserted through the aperture'9 in the plate 2 and are retained in position by U-shaped clips having arms I5 extending into the chan-- nels I3 and of suflicient length to overlap the edges of the apertures 9 to prevent the contacts being withdrawn. The bases I6 of the clips are positioned adjacent to or in abutment with the washer 3 with the free ends of the arms directed towards the outer edge of the holder. This positioning of the clips prevents them working free of the channels I3.

The U-shaped clips serve also to reinforce the resilient wings I2 of the contacts.

In assembling the holder, the contacts and the clips are assembled on the lower plate 2 before the upper plate I and washer 3 are secured thereto.

Instead of the channels I3 the wings may be formed with slots, shoulders or the like for engagement by the retainer clips.

I claim:

An electrical socket receptacle for a plug having a pin terminal prong, said receptacle comprising a pair of superposed plates separated by a vvasher, fastening means securing said plates in assembly and passing through said plates and washer, one plate having a rectangular aperture, a contact member disposed in said rectangular aperture including a base portion in engagement with the outer surface of said one plate, upwardly curved wing elements extending from opposite sides of the base portion through said aperture adjacent opposite edges thereof, inwardly curling contact portions at the free ends of said wing elements providing substantially parallel channels above the plane of the inner surface of said one plate, a U-shaped wire retainer member having arms passing through said channels and extending over and engaging said inner face of said one plate and a base disposed adjacent the outer rim of said washer preventing the retainer member from working free of said channels, and a pin prong-receiving aperture disposed in the other of said plates in line with said rectangular aperture. I GEOFFREY WILLIAM CLARK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain Feb. 1, 1943 

